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Played
February 9, 2012 1:30 AM IST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: David Fernandez Borbalan
Attendance: 90237
February 9, 2012 1:30 AM IST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: David Fernandez Borbalan
Attendance: 90237
Copa del Rey Preview: Barcelona - Valencia
The injury-hit Catalan outfit hold a slender advantage heading into Wednesday's semi-final second leg showdown with Unai Emery's side
By Karthick Arvinth
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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BARCELONA
 Pinto Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal Xavi, Mascherano, Fabregas Sanchez, Messi, Tello |
VALENCIA
 Alves Miguel, Rami, Ruiz, Mathieu Albelda, Banega Piatti, Jonas, Alba Soldado |
Sergio Busquets is a major doubt for Barcelona's make-or-break clash with Valencia after he suffered a gash to his knee in Saturday's win over Real Sociedad.
The defensive midfielder's injury stretches an already long sick list at Camp Nou, with Andres Iniesta, Pedro and David Villa all sidelined.
Coach Pep Guardiola could retain Cristian Tello in attack after the youngster impressed against Sociedad, while Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique and Alexis Sanchez are all likely to be restored to the starting line-up after being rested in the weekend fixture.
Valencia coach Unai Emery looks set to recall Ever Banega and Jonas to starting XI after the midfield duo were rested for Sunday's goalless draw at Atletico Madrid.
Los Che need to score to have any chance of progressing to the final, as Carles Puyol's header in the 1-1 draw at the Mestalla last week gives the Catalans the advantage on the away goals rule.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- Barcelona are the most successful club in Copa del Rey history, having won it 25 times and finishing runners-up 10 times.
- The Catalan giants haven't lost a competitive match at Camp Nou since September 2010.
- With a seating capacity of just over 99,000, Barcelona's Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe.
- Valencia have won just once in their last nine away games in all competitions.
- Los Che haven't won at Barcelona for more than eight years, with their last victory coming in October 2003.
- Roberto Soldado (pictured) is the Mestalla club's leading scorer this campaign with 20 goals.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Barcelona 3-1 Valencia
- 17.99 %
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Barcelona 3-0 Valencia
- 14.55 %
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Barcelona 2-0 Valencia
- 13.45 %
| La Liga (LIGA) | 20-Feb-2012 | Barcelona 5 - Valencia 1 |
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| Copa del Rey (ESPC) | 09-Feb-2012 | Barcelona 2 - Valencia 0 |
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| Copa del Rey (ESPC) | 02-Feb-2012 | Valencia 1 - Barcelona 1 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 22-Sep-2011 | Valencia 2 - Barcelona 2 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | 03-Mar-2011 | Valencia 0 - Barcelona 1 |
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Barcelona
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| 26-May-2012 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Barcelona 3 | ESPC |
| 13-May-2012 | Betis 2 - Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
| 06-May-2012 | Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 0 | LIGA |
| 02-May-2012 | Barcelona 4 - Malaga 1 | LIGA |
| 30-Apr-2012 | Rayo Vallecano 0 - Barcelona 7 | LIGA |
Valencia
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| 12-May-2012 | Real Sociedad 1 - Valencia 0 | LIGA |
| 06-May-2012 | Valencia 1 - Villarreal 0 | LIGA |
| 03-May-2012 | Valencia 4 - Osasuna 0 | LIGA |
| 29-Apr-2012 | Malaga 1 - Valencia 0 | LIGA |
| 27-Apr-2012 | Valencia 0 - Atletico de Madrid 1 | EL |
| 13 | José Pinto Colorado | Goalkeeper |
| 22 | Éric Abidal | Defender |
| 3 | Gerard Piqué | Defender |
| 5 | Carles Puyol | Defender |
| 4 | Cesc Fàbregas | Midfielder |
| 14 | Javier Mascherano | Midfielder |
| 11 | Thiago Alcántara | Midfielder |
| 6 | Xavi | Midfielder |
| 9 | Alexis Sánchez | Striker |
| - | Joan Isaac Cuenca Lopez | Striker |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | Striker |
| 1 | Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| 21 | Adriano | Midfielder |
| 32 | Marc Bartra Aregall | Defender |
| 2 | Daniel Alves | Defender |
| 8 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 28 | Dos Santos | Midfielder |
| 37 | Tello | Striker |
| 1 | Diego Alves | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Adil Rami | Defender |
| 22 | Jérémy Mathieu | Defender |
| 17 | Jordi Alba | Midfielder |
| 23 | Miguel Brito | Defender |
| 18 | Víctor Ruiz | Defender |
| 6 | Albelda | Midfielder |
| 10 | Ever Banega | Midfielder |
| 8 | Sofiane Feghouli | Midfielder |
| 11 | Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia | Striker |
| 7 | Jonas | Striker |
| 13 | Guaita | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Bruno | Defender |
| 20 | Ricardo Costa | Defender |
| 24 | Tino Costa | Midfielder |
| 21 | Parejo | Midfielder |
| 28 | Juan Bernat | Midfielder |
| 14 | Pablo Piatti | Striker |
Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pablo Infante
Striker Mirandés |
6 | 1 |
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Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker Bilbao |
5 | 0 |
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Álvaro
Striker Espanyol |
5 | 0 |
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Stuani
Striker Racing Santander |
4 | 1 |
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Pedro
Striker Barcelona |
4 | 1 |